Being an owner & user of the 15" MacBook Pro since forever; Over the years the 15" has frequently struggled with it`s thermals, especially when an external display is connected as the dGPU engages by default, internal temperatures soar, equally there are some steps that can be taken to reduce the systems temperature;
- Elevate the rear 2cm - 3cm, aluminium passive coolers generally work best (I use RainDesign`s mStand & iLap), even small portable risers such as ORICO's Creative Laptop Stand can make a difference, very handy for those on the "go".
- Increase base fan RPM to 3K or as much as you are comfortable with (MacsFanControl or SMC Fan Control)
- Limit the dGPU`s usage with gfxCardStatus
- Swap out Chrome for Chrome Canary as it can be more optimised for OS X and may extend battery run time, reduce thermals etc.
- Swap out VLC for Movist as again it`s a reduced load on CPU/GPU
- Uninstall or block Flash
- Install an ad blocker Wipr or AdGuard works well
- Powered coolers are very much a "mixed bag" when it comes to Mac portables, you need one that has a high capacity (100 CFM minimum) and preferably a large single fan, this can help to keep the 15" internal fans below 4K which for many is good enough as often it`s this point and beyond where the fans become intrusive and annoying. Don't expect a powered cooler impact internal temperatures, beyond a couple of degrees
- Older notebooks can benefit from cleaning of the cooling system
- Retina`s can benefit from cleaning of the cooling system, as the heat syncs are far smaller and loose efficiency faster, due to build up of dust/debris etc.
- Replacing the thermal paste has been hit & miss, some with very positive results, some with no improvement over stock. Personally I would only do this on a Mac that was either very old, or one that I can confirm was definitely running a lot hotter than stock.
- If your MBP has a discrete GPU, it will fire up when an external display is connected as default, temperatures will rise rapidly.
- Consider a specific vertical stand when using a MPB in "Clamshell" mode allowing for greater circulation of air. Some recommend inverting the MBP in the stand with the exhaust at the top & intake at the bottom (Retina)
- Another option for static setups is a USB powered fan strategically placed so it blows across the MBP keyboard deck (air flow L-R above & below the keyboard)
The key to a quiet life with a 15" MacBook Pro is several incremental changes that can and do add up to reduce thermals. From my experience over the years if your going to push a 15" MBP hard the fans are going to max out fast, with associated temperature & noise. If your using it with a moderate load, life can be made quieter. For the most part your MBP runs hot as that`s how Apple designed it, this is the trade off for being thin & light...
Like it or loath it, there's good reason why the majority of Windows MBP counterparts have significantly more cooling & vents, nor is it due to their design teams being inept. Apple simply places form over function first in many circumstance. My own primary notebook can hold maximum Turbo of 3.9GHz, equally it's larger & heavier with a far more robust cooling solution.
The old adage still applies; it`s easier to keep a system cool, than cool-down an already overly hot machine. This being said it`s not strictly necessary unless as in this case performance is being compromised, equally it`s nice to know that there are some options for reducing temperature out there, and a quieter life.
As for throttling some answers to that question may lie here, although don't expect too much for the 2016/2017 MBP:
https://forums.macrumors.com/thread...al-throttling-and-overheating-github.1731178/
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